Short read
‘We’re big believers in putting our money where our mouth is’
This year the Food Manufacture Excellence Awards introduced a raft of new accolades, including The Community Award.
After reviewing the entries, five finalists were chosen for this category:
- Action Against Hunger - The Compleat Food Group
- Blue Dragon Children's Foundation & TNA Solutions
- One Feeds Two - Mindful Chef
- Project Surplus - Charlie Bigham's
- Work For Good & B1G1 - Fudge Kitchen
Each had to present a clear example of how they have collaborated with a charity or initiative and successfully made a difference. This could vary from a partnership with a redistribution charity to a self-devised programme that has improved working environments in their supply chain.
Fudge Kitchen, the premium, handmade confectioner which offers fudge, toffee, caramel, honeycomb and beyond, was the ultimate winner of this new prize for its work through the B1G1 programme.
What is B1G1?
B1G1 was started by Masami Sato, who was inspired by her travels to set up a food firm with all the profits going to help disadvantaged children.
Sadly, and in her own words, her plan “failed badly”.
Eager to still live by the mantra of ‘business for good’, an idea came to her – the concept of ‘buy one, give one’, and so B1G1 was born.
The initiative which was officially launched in 2007 invites companies to ‘make a difference in their own way by doing what they normally would do’.
Once an account is set up, the organisation can begin their ‘business for good’ journey, setting a budget and target. For example, 1% of revenue is regarded as the gold standard. Then they select a cause to assign it to.
Among the members is Fudge Kitchen, which joined the movement in 2020.
Offering more context, marketing & brand director, Richard Parson told Food Manufacture: “The B1G1 platform allows businesses to commit long-term financial support for causes all around the world, and provides relatable metrics to put fundraising into context.”
He added that Fudge Kitchen was “keen to adopt the impact metric system “as a way of contextualising the good work of the causes” it chose to support.
“Not just for customers, but more importantly, to engage our teams and make them true ambassadors of doing good.
“Through our partnerships with Work For Good and B1G1 we can make sure our in-store promotions not only benefit our commercial goals, but go some way to make a difference in our communities too.”
Community work through Neighbourly
“Fudge Kitchen has always tried to be a business for good; giving back where possible, and striving to leave a positive impact not just on our environment but in the lives of people too!” Parson continued.
Testiment to these, during the pandemic, the company began to also fundraise for the Neighbourly Community Fund.
This initiative offers a platform that helps businesses make a positive impact in their communities by donating volunteer time, money and surplus products to local good causes.
The Neighbourly platform has so far facilitated over £360m of impact into local communities across the UK and Ireland, and set a further goal to deliver £1bn of positive impact by next year.
“During the height of the pandemic, we noticed that many local community causes had their vital funding stopped as purse-strings tightened. Neighbourly set up a Community Fund into which businesses could pledge support, that in turn could be used to provide grants to community initiatives when they needed it most. We supported the Neighbourly Community Fund throughout the pandemic, and in 2023 chose the Neighbourly Trust as our community charity for the year,” explained Parson.
Winning the Community Award at the FMEAs 2024
While Fudge Kitchen is no stranger to winning at the FMEAs, having been named Ambient Producer in 2014, 2020 and 2023, Parson described the win as a “break from tradition” and a wonderful recognition.
“It’s wonderful to be recognised for our wider work as a business. Being recognised among such giants of the food industry, themselves doing incredible work in their local communities. It’s touching that our small contribution has had such a positive impact, and hopefully goes some way to encourage other SMEs to make similar commitments.”
Commenting on what their secret to success has been at the Food Manufacture awards, Parson said: “I’m not sure it’s so much a secret, but we’re big believers in putting our money where our mouth is!
“Across every inch of the business we try to instil our core values, and when our customers look at what we do, they know they can trust us not only to produce a delicious product, but know it’s done responsibly and in support of our wider community.
And on entering the awards, Parson concluded: “I’d absolutely recommend other producers to get involved – these awards help to shine a light not only on the amazing work of some huge household names, but help to raise awareness of those SMEs making showstopping products and challenging the status-quo along the way through innovation.”
Entries for 2025 open this summer. For more information, please visit the Food Manufacture Excellence Awards website, where details will be shared shortly.
In other news, hybrid goodies and savoury treats are set to sweep the nation, according to ingredients manufacture Macphie.
